April 29, 2015 (Deerfield, IL) - Walgreens Boots Alliance will be a key sponsor of the USA Pavilion at the upcoming world’s fair in Milan, which will take place from 1 May to 31 October 2015. Under the theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”, Expo Milano 2015 will look at how countries generate healthy, safe and sufficient food for everyone in the decades to come, while respecting the planet and its environment.
The USA Pavilion will showcase American innovation in the food sector and across many other aspects of culture, science and business where the U.S. has significant expertise. The USA Pavilion, themed “American Food 2.0: United to Feed the Planet,” is designed to showcase America’s role in the future of food around the world and create a global conversation about the challenge of feeding more than nine billion people nutritiously and sustainably by 2050.
Ambassador Douglas T. Hickey, Commissioner General of the USA Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 marked the announcement by saying, “The USA Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 will show how feeding ourselves engages a massive infrastructure and dynamic systems that touch on just about every aspect of the world we live in. Each step from farm to table reflects a set of connections that impact our identities and shape our future, and we are pleased to partner with Walgreen Boots Alliance as a successful enterprise dedicated to improving people’s lives.”
As well as sponsoring the USA Pavilion, Walgreens Boots Alliance will have a space designated to Walgreens and Boots which will showcase the company’s retail, service and product offerings.
Ornella Barra, Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive of Global Wholesale & International Retail, who oversees the project, comments: “Less than four months after the formation of Walgreens Boots Alliance, our sponsorship of the USA Pavilion is a unique opportunity to highlight our commitment to help people lead healthier and happier lives. In addition, this major event will enable us to showcase the corporate brand of our new enterprise to international audiences and millions of visitors from across Europe, the Americas, Asia and rest of the world.”
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About Friends of the USA Pavilion Milano 2015
The U.S. Department of State has selected the Friends of the USA Pavilion Milano 2015 as its private sector partner to work with the U.S. government to develop and implement an official American presence at the Expo. Friends of the USA Pavilion Milano 2015, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a collaboration between the James Beard Foundation (JBF) and the International Culinary Center (ICC), in association with the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy, whose mission is to conceive, design, fundraise for, and produce the USA Pavilion and programs at Expo Milano 2015.
Current partners include GE, NUSSLI, Brand USA, FCA US, CNH Industrial, PepsiCo, Microsoft, Uvet, Walgreens Boots Alliance, DHL, DuPont, Boeing, Brooks Brothers, illy, Bank of America, EMC, 3M, Research Frontiers, Dow, Uber, McKinsey & Company, FleishmanHillard, Geox, Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, U.S. Sustainability Alliance, American Hardwood Export Council, Food Export Association of the Midwest USA, Food Export USA-Northeast, North American Export Grain Association, USA Poultry & Egg Commission, USA Rice Federation, U.S. Dairy Export Council, U.S. Grains Council, and U.S. Soybean Export Council.
With the leadership of Commissioner General Doug Hickey and under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State, the Friends organization is overseeing every aspect of the project in consultation with a team of experts across the science, business, technology, agriculture, sustainability, design and other fields. The pavilion’s management and programming is directed by President Dorothy Hamilton (founder and CEO of ICC), Chief Executive Officer Charlie Faas, and Chief Creative Officer Mitchell Davis (EVP of JBF). Under their supervision, the USA Pavilion was designed by Biber Architects and the exhibitions were designed by Thinc Design.
About Expo Milano 2015
Expo Milano 2015 is the Universal Exhibition that Milan, Italy, will host from 1 May 2015 to 31 October 2015. Over this six-month period, Milan will become a global showcase where more than 140 participating countries will show the best of their technology that offers a concrete answer to a vital need: being able to guarantee healthy, safe and sufficient food for everyone, while respecting the Planet and its equilibrium. In addition to the exhibitor nations, the Expo also involves international organizations, and expects to welcome over 20 million visitors to its 1.1 million square meters of exhibition area.
A platform for the exchange of ideas and shared solutions on the theme of food, stimulating each country’s creativity and promoting innovation for a sustainable future, Expo Milano 2015 will give attendees the opportunity to find out about, and taste, the world’s best dishes, while discovering the best of the agri-food and gastronomic traditions of each of the exhibitor countries.
About Walgreens Boots Alliance
Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise in the world.
The company was created through the combination of Walgreens and Alliance Boots in December 2014, bringing together two leading companies with iconic brands, complementary geographic footprints, shared values and a heritage of trusted health care services through pharmaceutical wholesaling and community pharmacy care, dating back more than 100 years.
The company employs over 370,000* people and has a presence in more than 25* countries; it is the largest retail pharmacy, health and daily living destination in the USA and Europe. Including its equity method investments, Walgreens Boots Alliance is the global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail with over 13,100* stores in 11* countries. The company includes the largest global pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution network with over 350* distribution centers delivering to more than 200,000** pharmacies, doctors, health centers and hospitals each year in 19* countries. In addition, Walgreens Boots Alliance is the world’s largest purchaser of prescription drugs and many other health and wellbeing products.
Its portfolio of retail and business brands includes Walgreens, Duane Reade, Boots and Alliance Healthcare, as well as increasingly global health and beauty product brands, such as No7, Botanics and Soap & Glory. More company information is available at www.walgreensbootsalliance.com.
* As at 28 February 2015 including equity method investments
** For 12 months ended 28 February 2015 including equity method investments